With snow from the weekend blanketing our mountain town, minds are turning toward the impending ski season. Whether or not we have a banner year to match last season, one thing is for certain: Winter is what you make of it.
That’s why the Ski Utah 5th & 6th Grade Passport is such a great way for young skiers and snowboarders to sample all of Utah’s mountains during one season for just $45. Yup! Just $45 for 5th Graders to receive three passes at each resort, or 45 days of skiing (that’s $1 per ticket if you use all 45), or one pass at each resort for 6th Graders! Not to be left out, adults can join their kids by purchasing the Yeti Pass to receive one pass at each resort for 15 days of skiing for just $649.
Photo credit: Ski Utah
“Ski Utah is so proud to offer the 5th And 6th Grade Passport to families looking to get outside and experience Utah’s mountains,” explained my friend Anelise Bergin, director of communications at Ski Utah. “Not only does the Passport give families an affordable ski pass option, but the pass also encourages our visitors and our locals to explore all 15 resorts in the state of Utah and enjoy the wide variety of skiing and riding options that our beautiful resorts have to offer.”
To learn more about this amazing opportunity, I asked Anelise a few questions to help parents and grandparents navigate the registration and redemption process.
Last year was the 20th anniversary (the program started in 1998). The passport initially started with only 5th grade, then 6th grade was added three years later.
What is the goal of the program?
The main goal of the program is to encourage growth in the sport and to offer a low cost opportunity for kids (and families) to explore the entire state of Utah and ski or ride all 15 resorts on one pass.
How many students participate annually?
The program has seen healthy, consistent growth over the last few years. On average we see around 10,000 participants.
Do you have to have a Utah address to enroll?
No — this is open to any 5th or 6th grader in the world! The majority of passport holders are locals, but we encourage any families with 5th or 6th graders to consider the Passport as an option.
What is the deadline for enrolling?
The passport does not have a deadline, but it is highly recommended to apply before Christmas. We suggest signing up sooner than later, this way families have the most time to explore all the resorts and have the passport ready and approved as soon as they are ready to ski.
What are the steps for redemption?
Most of the resorts allow you to redeem the Passport at their ticket windows, but Park City Mountain requires participants to redeem at a pass office. More details on redemption are listed here: https://www.skiutah.com/passes/passports/fifth-grade-passport-faq/index.html/#how-to-redeem. The student needs to state their first name, last name, and date of birth, but identification is not needed at redemption.
Are there Yeti Passes still available for adults who might want to ski or ride with their kiddos?
Yes! But quantity is limited on these passes, so we advise purchasing ASAP.
Anything else that would be helpful for parents to know beforehand?
Sign up sooner than later, and read through the information on our website. There is an ample amount of helpful information listed here: https://www.skiutah.com/passes/passports/fifth-grade-passport-faq. We also send regular emails to passport parents that will have helpful information, resort opening dates, and more — be sure to open and read these to stay up to date!
Is Woodward Park City included on the Passport?
Yes! Three full days at Woodward Park City are included as a part of the 5th Grade Passport, with one full day for the 6th Grade Passport. Reservations are recommended for this pass redemption.
Other facts:
The Passport program gives fifth graders three days (45 days total) and sixth graders one day (15 days total) of skiing or riding at each of Utah’s 15 resorts. Since the inception of Ski Utah’s school program, more than 200,000 fourth graders have learned to ski or snowboard and more than 150,000 fifth and sixth graders have continued to hone their skills on the slopes in Utah.
I’m looking forward to exploring a few new resorts with my 6th Grader this season, thanks to the Ski Utah Passport program, and hope to see some of you out there taking advantage of the breadth of local resorts, as well!
Learn about more unique-to-Utah opportunities that inspire so many new homeowners to Choose Park City. Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238, or visiting her website by clicking here to learn more about the reasons Park City and its surrounding communities are unmatched in experiences for kids throughout the year.